Resource:716dca50-ee7d-4fc5-86f2-491d88d3cf4d

Resources

Cases

Traver paper: The Unique Case of a Published Delusion

What is this about?

This is a historical case about an entomologist called Jay Traver who published her personal experiences with a mite infestation of her scalp in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington in 1951. Although results are not reproducible and seem to have been fabricated (hence, deserving of a retraction), in this article it is argued that since she suffered from Delusory Parasitosis, the accusations of fabrication may not hold, and bad science would be a better description of the problem at hand. Accordingly, the validity of a retraction note due to fabrication is questioned on the grounds of discrimination against mentally ill.

Why is this important?

It raises questions about the definition of fabrication and its difference with bad science, and whether journal editors should/could take into account the mental state of authors who submit articles.

For whom is this important?

ResearchersJournal editorsPolicy makers

What are the best practices?

Editors need to publish a retraction notice and specifically clarify the unreliability of results, without making a reference to the mental state of the author.

Other information

When

• 1951

Where

• United States

Virtues & Values

• Reliability
• Honesty
• Accountability

Good Practices & Misconduct

• Fabrication (unconsciously)

Research Area

• Biological sciences